MVB: Lasell comes from behind to outlast Johnson & Wales

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell College men's volleyball team rallied from a two-set hole Tuesday evening to pull out a 3-2 victory over Johnson & Wales University in a dramatic Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's volleyball match at the Lasell Athletic Center.

The Wildcats captured the first two sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-20, but Lasell answered with 25-22 and 25-23 victories to even the match at two sets apiece. The Lasers used the momentum to pull ahead in the decisive fifth set and held on for an 18-16 victory. Lasell improves to 10-11 overall and 4-3 in GNAC play, while JWU drops to 13-7 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

Junior Scott Sterenberg (Oceanside, N.Y.) led the Lasers with 14 kills and four service aces, while junior Janci  Soto (Lawrence Mass.) and senior David Anthony (Cranston, R.I.) added six winners each. Senior Andy Henriquez (Lawrence, Mass.) was strong all around, posting five kills, 30 assists and a team-high four blocks. Seniors Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn.) and Nate Gallo (North Providence, R.I.) contributed 21 and 10 digs, respectively.

Junior Josh Pitzer (North Kingstown, R.I.) and junior Sanjae Holloway (East Hartford, Conn.) made 11 kills each to lead the Wildcats. Senior Donovan Kelley (Encinitas, Calif.) chipped in with nine kills and five blocks, and senior Cameron Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) just missed a triple-double with 19 assists, 14 digs, eight kills and seven blocks. Rookie Ben Sandt (East Northport, N.Y.) recorded his first collegiate double-double with 26 assists and 11 digs

JWU played strong defense in the opening two stanzas as it held the Lasers to just five kills in each set. The Lasers came back and hit with a .290 attack percentage in the third set to get back into the match. The fourth set was tied at 23-23 but Lasell stayed alive on a JWU error and a set-clinching kill by Anthony.

Set five featured seven ties, as JWU fought off match points at 14-13, 15-14 and 16-15. The Lasers finally pulled out the match, forcing the Wildcats into back-to-back errors.

Lasell is home again on Thursday, March 21, hosting GNAC newcomer Colby-Sawyer College at 7 p.m. at the Athletic Center. JWU is back on the court Saturday, hosting Wentworth at 11 a.m. followed by Medgar Evers at 3 p.m.

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